Classic and popular songs about unrequited love

Wait & See ~RiskUtada Hikaru

Hikaru Utada – Wait & See (Risk)

I can’t help but feel a bit of that New York vibe after all.

What’s really cool is how, just when it seems like a typical song would end near the finale, it rebuilds itself once more with a different pattern.

The lyrics feel a bit brisk and matter-of-fact, but they’re surprisingly deep.

celeryYamazaki Masayoshi

Masayoshi Yamazaki / Celery

Before I know it, it’s over while I’m caught up in the rhythm.

Even so, what really stays with me is the message that it’s only natural for our ways of thinking to differ, since the environments we’ve lived in since birth are different.

It’s a song that teaches you that love alone isn’t enough.

Ambiguous BlueKawasaki Takaya

Takaya Kawasaki - Ambiguous Blue [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

A heart-stirring love song that portrays jealousy born from lovesickness and feelings that can’t be grasped.

Its simple yet striking piano and acoustic guitar melodies further highlight the frustration of a hesitant heart.

As the affection that grows with getting to know someone more deeply intertwines with aching emotions, Takaya Kawasaki’s gentle voice weaves them together with care.

Chosen as the theme song for the MBS drama “Fukushū Kareshi: Deki-Ai Shachō no Kao ni wa Ura ga Aru” (“Revenge Boyfriend: The Doting CEO Has a Hidden Side”), this track speaks to anyone in love who wants to know more about their partner yet feels anxious when they know too much.

Recommended for those struggling with the delicate distance in a relationship.

ElegyHirai Ken

Ken Hirai “Elegy” MUSIC VIDEO

This is a masterpiece whose poignant love story, told from a woman’s perspective, resonates in the rich vocals of Ken Hirai.

It delicately portrays the feelings of a woman consumed by love, expressing the intense emotions of fixation on her partner and a fierce willingness to embrace even the pain of love.

Released in January 2007 as the theme song for Toho’s film Love’s Crucible, it was also included on the album FAKIN’ POP and performed at the 58th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen.

In 2021, it was covered by Fuyumi Sakamoto on her album Love Emotion, continuing to influence many artists.

It’s a song to listen to on nights after heartbreak or when you’re suffering from thoughts of someone you love.

I wish I were the one you liked.Te ga kuriimu pan

I wish I were the one you love / Hands Like Cream Bread (Wishing I’m her / tegacreampan) [Official Music Video]

A heart-stirring ballad by Tegami Cream Pan, where earnest feelings and a bittersweet mood are woven together through a clear, transparent vocal.

It gently portrays a woman who carries deep feelings for someone important yet struggles to express them.

Featuring an evocative piano melody, the song was released in April 2023.

Showcasing her delicate expressive power to the fullest, this piece speaks on behalf of girls in love.

It’s a must-listen for those who keep their feelings for a crush to themselves or find it hard to be honest about their emotions toward someone dear.

How many times have I read over the lyrics of LOVE SONG?Sakurazaka46

Sakurazaka46: “How many times have I gone back and reread the lyrics of LOVE SONG?”

A love song that comforts the heart on sleepless nights.

Released by Sakurazaka46 in February 2024, this track gently embraces the bittersweet feelings of someone in love.

Have you ever spent a sleepless night thinking of your unrequited love, rereading the lyrics of a LOVE SONG over and over? The lyrics, which delicately portray the emotions of someone in love, feel as if they’re speaking on your behalf.

This work is included as a coupling track on the 8th single, “What Age Do You Want to Return To?” On nights when love troubles you, why not listen to this song and soothe your heart? It will surely stay close to your feelings.

dear personShio Reira

Leila Shio / Ito Shii Hito [Official Music Video]

This song focuses on the different readings of the kanji for “love,” portraying the misalignments in how love is expressed and received.

Released in August 2024 as the lead track of the 1st EP “No one,” it also drew attention for being featured as background music on ABEMA’s dating show “He and the Little Wolf-chan Won’t Deceive You.” If you’ve ever struggled with the weight of the word “love” or felt unsure about how to interpret someone’s feelings, you’ll find it impossible not to relate.

You can really feel the kindness of someone trying to accept their partner’s clumsy way of showing love.